back

n

[+person, animal]dos m→ He was lying on his back.→ He threw the saddle across the donkey's back.to do sth behind sb's backfaire qch derrière le dos de qn→ You eat her food, enjoy her hospitality and then criticize her behind her back.→ They were talking about her behind her back.to turn one's back on sb/sth
(=abandon)tourner le dos à qn/qch→ I asked him for help, but he turned his back on me.→ She wouldn't turn her back on someone who has coached her for 12 years.→ She has turned her back on her career to become a missionary.to have one's back to the wall, to have one's back against the wall(fig)être au pied du mur, être le dos au mur→ The banks had their backs to the wall. They could not risk being seen as Scrooges inflicting Yuletide misery on thousands of workers→ in the first half we had our backs to the wall, but still managed to keep the score 0-0to break the back of a job(British)faire le gros d'un travailto get sb's back up*
(=annoy)hérisser qnto get off sb's back*ficher * la paix à qnto be glad to see the back of sb(British)*être content(e) de voir partir qn

[+hand]dos m, revers mthe back of the neckla nuque→ She raised her hands to the back of her neck.the back of the legle mollet→ She had varicose veins on the backs of her legs.

[+top, dress, skirt]dos m
[+trousers]fond m→
back to front

[+page, cheque]verso mon the backau verso

[+door]dos m→ Pin the list on the back of the door.

[+house]derrière m
[+room, theatre, hall]fond mat the back
[+room, theatre, hall]au fond→ There's space for 3 people at the back.

[+car, train]arrière m→ Your seats are in coach G, towards the back of the train.in the backà l'arrière→ The children sat in the back.

[+book]
(=end)fin f→ The index is at the back of the book.
(=back cover)dos m

(=support financially, fund)soutenir financièrement→ The group is backed by big multinationals.

(=give one's backing to)[+candidate]soutenir→ The union will back Mr Green.[+plan]soutenir→ The Security Council has agreed to back the plan.

(=bet on)[+horse]parier sur, miser surto back the winner(lit)miser sur le gagnant→ Did you back the winner?to back the winner(fig)miser sur le gagnant→ After a dismal couple of years, he believes that his party has at last backed a winner.→ The president took a gamble and backed the winner when he threw his support to Boris Yeltsin.

back up[+car]reculer→ She backed the car a few feet.to back one's car into a parking spacegarer sa voiture en marche arrière→ He backed the van into a parking space.

(not front)
[legs, feet]de derrière
[window, wall, row, entrance]de derrière→ She left by the back entrance without commenting.→ Can you take the delivery through the back entrance?back wheels
[+car]roues fpl arrièrethe back wheel of my bikela roue arrière de mon véloback gardenjardin sur l'arrière

(=ago)back in 1980en 1980The story starts back in 1950.L'histoire remonte à 1950.a few years backil y a quelques années→ There was a terrorist attack a few years back.back in the daydans le temps

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answer backvirépondre, répliquer→ She was punished by teachers for answering back.

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back downvi
(=give way)revenir sur sa position→ It's too late to back down now.→ The government has no intention of backing down in the dispute.to back down on sth[+plan, issue,demand]se rétracter sur qch→ He had to back down on plans to backdate the tax changes.→ The Italians may be willing to back down on the second condition.→ Having been forced to back down on this issue, the Prime Minister now has a serious political damage control exercise on his hands.→ He was shocked with the petition and said organisers would not back down on their decision.The president tried to back down on what he had said.Le président a essayé de se rétracter sur ce qu'il avait dit.

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back on to, back ontovt fusThe house backs on to the golf course.Le derrière de la maison donne sur le terrain de golf.

(of promise, commitment, deal)
se désister→ Everything was set up. Then, mysteriously, he backed out.They promised to help us, and then backed out.Ils avaient promis de nous aider et ils se sont désistés.to back out of sth[+promise, commitment, deal]se retirer de qch→ The Hungarians backed out of the project in 1989.→ They have backed out of the deal.

(=support)[+person]soutenir→ His employers backed him up.→ My parents have always backed me up.[+views, statement, theory, sb's words]confirmer→ Her views are backed up by an official report on crime.→ There is no evidence to back up your statement.→ Radio signals received from the galaxy's centre back up the black hole theory.If I say I was at your house, will you back me up?Si je dis que j'étais chez toi, tu peux le confirmer?→ The girl denied being there, and the man backed her up.

[+car]reculer→ Can you back your car up a bit? I haven't got enough space to get out.→ He backed up a few feet and stopped.

back alleynruelle f

back-breaking, backbreakingadj
[work, labour]éreintant(e)→ Many months of back-breaking work still face them.

back burner, backburnernon the back burneren veilleuse→ For 10 years she has looked after her three children with her career very much on the back burner.to put sth on the back burnermettre qch en veilleuse→ Many speculated that the US would put the peace process on the back burner.

back cataloguen
[+musician]anciens enregistrements mpl→ this compilation of the band's back catalogue→ He planned to reissue much of his back catalogue, adding bonus tracks

back copyn
[+magazine, newspaper]vieux numéro m

back country, backcountry(US)nthe back countryla campagne f profonde→ They have moved deep into the back country.

back doorn

(lit)
[+house]porte f de derrière

(fig)to do sth through the back door, to do sth by the back doorfaire qch de façon détournée→ Dentists claim the Government is privatising dentistry through the back door.

back flipnflip m arrière→ He celebrated his goal with an elaborate back flip.

back-pedal, backpedalvi
(=backtrack)faire marche arrière→ Allen back-pedalled, saying that he had had no intention of offending them ...to back-pedal on sthfaire marche arrière sur qch, reculer sur qch→ He appeared to back-pedal on that statement.→ The cabinet may backpedal on these commitments.

back-pedallingnmarche f arrière→ The liberals were angered by Britain's back-pedalling→ a dispute between potential witnesses and a feeling that the evidence might be rather thin caused some back-pedalling yesterdayback-pedalling on sthmarche arrière sur qch→ ... Britain's back-pedalling on reforms.

back roadn
(=small country road)petite route f de campagne

back rubn
(=massage)massage m de dos→ Will you give me a back rub?

back seatn

[+car]siège m arrière

(fig)to take a back seat
[person](voluntarily)
rester en retrait, s'effacer(not voluntarily)
être relégué(e) au second plan→ The scandal yesterday saw her take a back seat in operations at her PR firm→ The Pope has had to take a back seat for most of the Holy Week celebrations
[issue]être relégué(e) au second plan→ Under Mr McLeish the arts took a back seat as the former first minister sought to attract major sporting events to Scotland.

(fig)
(=unwanted advisor, manipulator)to be a back-seat drivertirer les ficelles→ They accused the former prime minister of being a backseat driver.→ The Conservative leadership cannot ignore the problem of its back-seat driver any longer→ Less than a week into his role, Alistair Darling already realises that Lord Birt is the back-seat driver.

back-slapping, backslapping

n

(=cordial behaviour)cordialité f→ Men love him for his hearty back-slapping and hand-shaking.

(=congratulating)félicitations fpl→ the system of backslapping and favors that's characteristic of politics→ The triumphant Bindaree calmly accepted the backslapping and camera-clicking.I think a bit of backslapping at this time of year is in order - it has been a good campaign.Je pense qu'on peut se permettre de se passer de la pommade à cette époque de l'année - ça a été une bonne campagne.

n
(=small narrow street)ruelle f→ The small church of San Michel is tucked away in a narrow back street of Port-au-Prince.

back streetsnpl
(=poor area)quartiers mpl pauvres→ ... the back streets of Berlin.

back-to-backadj

[people, houses]dos à dos inv

(=consecutive)
[wins, victories, defeats]consécutif(-ive)→ they had back-to-back wins at home to Germany and Brazil

back to frontadvà l'envers→ He wears his baseball cap back to front.→ You've got your T-shirt on back to front.to do sth back to frontfaire qch à l'envers→ He has done it all back to front, he should have organized the meeting first.

back toothn(back teethpl)molaire f

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bounce backvi
[team, competitor]faire un retour en force→ Detroit (7-4-3) bounced back from its first home defeat of the season

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bring backvt

[+thing]rapporter→ She brought my book back.

[+memories]ranimer→ Your article brought back sad memories for me.to bring it all back, It brought it all back.Tout m'est revenu.→ Talking about it brought it all back.

[+practice, custom]rétablir→ Some people want to bring back the death penalty.

[+person]ramener

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buy backvtracheter→ I regretted selling it to him and bought it back for twice the price.

(=return)repasser→ I'll call back tonight, on the way back from the pub.

(=phone again)rappeler→ I told him I would call back when I had some news.I'll call back at 6 o'clock.Je rappellerai à six heures.

vt sep

(=phone back)rappeler→ Would you ask him to call me back as soon as possible.

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claw backvt[+loss, money]récupérer→ Telewest Communications clawed back some of this week's losses

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come backvi

(=return)revenirCome back!Reviens!

(=reply later)to come back to sb on sthrépondre plus tard à qn à propos de qch→ Jen has told me she will come back to me on the date of the next meeting.Can I come back to you on that one?Est-ce que je peux te répondre plus tard?

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cut backvt sep

[+plants]tailler→ Cut the stems back to within 50 cm of the soil.

[+production, expenditure]réduire→ Congress cut back the funds.

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cut back onvt fus[+spending, investment]économiser sur→ The government want to cut back on investment in public services[+food, fat]réduire→ We are working to cut back on fat in our diet.[+treats]se permettre moins de

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draw backvi(lit)
(=move back)reculer(fig)
(=retreat)se retirer→ The Government should draw back, even at this stageto draw back from sth[+action]se retirer de qch→ He will urge ministers to draw back from the plan

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fall back intovt fus[+routine, old habits]retomber dans→ He'd promise to be better. But he'd soon fall back into his old ways→ he believed the economy was unlikely to fall back into recession

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fall back onvt fusse rabattre sur→ the Prime Minister will be able to fall back on his veto to ensure that the measure is not passed→ He fell back on his favourite trick: quoting himself→ Unable to defeat him by logical discussion, she fell back on her old habit of criticizing his speechto have something to fall back on(money)
avoir quelque chose en réserve(job)
avoir une solution de rechange→ If everything goes wrong, at least I have a job to fall back on

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feed backvt sep[+results]donner en retour

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fight back

vi
(=resist)se défendre→ The teenage attackers fled when the two men fought back→ Our forces were fighting back desperately ...

vt sep[+tears]refouler→ She fought back the tears[+emotion, urge]réprimer

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fold backvt[+sheet]rabattre→ Fold the sheet and blankets back at the top ...

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force backvt

[+crowd, enemy]repousser

[+tears]refouler→ I forced his head back.→ Nancy forced back tears. She wasn't going to cry in front of all those people.

full-back, fullbacknarrière m

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get back

vi
(=return)rentrerWhat time did you get back?Tu es rentré à quelle heure?

vtrécupérerHe got his money back.Il a récupéré son argent.

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get back atvt fus*to get back at sbrendre à qn la monnaie de sa pièce

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get back to

[+activity]
(=start again)retourner or revenir à

[+person]
(=contact again)recontacter

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give backvt seprendreto give sth back to sbrendre qch à qnI gave the book back to him.Je lui ai rendu le livre.

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glance backvijeter un coup d'œil en arrièreto glance back at sb/sthse retourner pour jeter un coup d'œil à qn/qch→ he glanced back at him as he left

(=return)retournerWe went back to the same place.Nous sommes retournés au même endroit.→ I'd have to do all that before I could go back to bed.They told me I could go back to his bedside.Ils m'ont dit que je pouvais revenir à son chevet.to go back to the beginningrevenir au début

(=date back)remonterto go back to[+year, century]remonter à→ The feud goes back to the 11th century

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go back onvt fus[+promise]revenir sur

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go back tovt[+task, activity]reprendre→ I did not know whether to go back to gymnasticsto go back to workreprendre le travail→ Jane had to go back to work, which was not easy

half-backndemi m

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hand backvt sep[+object, property]rendre→ The thieves refused to hand back the stolen pictures.→ She denied any wrongdoing but agreed to hand back the money.[+power, control]restituer[+country, land, territory]rendre→ the government's reluctance to hand back land nationalised under the Sandinistasto hand sth back to sb[+object, property]rendre qch à qn→ She handed the picture back to Alberg.→ I handed the passport back to Harry.→ We handed the car back to the dealer.[+power, control]restituer qch à qn→ Thompson expects to hand back control of the club to Gerard Houllier next month.[+country, land, territory]rendre qch à qn→ Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997.

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hang backvi
(=hesitate)hésiter→ The rest of the children hung back, watching her.→ I saw him step forward but then hang back, nervously rubbing his hands.to hang back from doing sthêtre réticent(e) à faire qch

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head backvi
(=set off back)retourner→ he headed back to Europe to finalise the attack plan.

(=hinder, inhibit)[+person]
[situation, conditions]être un obstacle pour
[person]brider[+recovery]retarder→ Stagnation in home sales is holding back economic recoveryShe wanted to be an actress but her dyslexia held her back.Elle voulait être actrice, mais sa dyslexie a été un obstacle pour elle.She's very ambitious, so don't try to hold her back.Elle est très ambitieuse, n'essaie pas de la brider.to hold sb back from doing sthretenir qn de faire qch→ the lack of trust that holds us back from opening up fully to othersSydney's pride held him back from relying on her too much.C'est son orgueil qui retenait Sydney de trop dépendre d'elle.What's holding him back from making a final decision?Qu'est-ce qui le retient de prendre une décision sans appel ?

vi
(=hesitate before acting)temporiserThe administration had several reasons for holding back.L'administration avait ses raisons de temporiser.to hold back from doing sthattendre avant de faire qch→ I don't see why he would have held back from telling us.Ministers held back from making the bad news public.Les ministres ont attendu avant de rendre publique la mauvaise nouvelle., Les ministres ont retardé la diffusion de la mauvaise nouvelle.

(=glance backwards)regarder derrière soi→ When I looked back, he had gone.to look back at sth/sbse retourner pour regarder qch/qn→ She turned to look back at her parents waving on the platform.

(on the past)
revenir sur le passélooking back, ...rétrospectivement, ...Looking back, I think I did the best I could.Rétrospectivement, je pense que j'ai fait de mon mieux.to look back on sth[+event, period]repenser à qch→ The past always seems better when you look back on it.to look back on sth with regretrepenser à qch avec regret→ They will look back on this match with a great deal of pride.→ Ruby looks back on her childhood with immense nostalgia.I never looked back(was successful from then on)
à partir de ce moment-là, tout m'a réussi→ Celtic led from the 19th minute and never looked back.

lower backnthe lower backle bas du dos

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move back

vi

(to town, area, country)
(=come back)revenir
(=go back)retournerHe recently moved back to Britain.Il est récemment revenu or retourné vivre en Grande-Bretagne.→ he gave up riding and moved back to Scotland

(in board game)
reculerMove back three squares.Reculez de trois cases.

(=return)(gen)
rendre→ Glass can be collected and passed back to glass manufacturers for recycling[+benefits, savings]répercuter→ the benefits must be passed back to the consumer→ If three quarters of this were passed back to customers in the form of price cuts ...

[+message]transmettre→ The word was passed back to Downing Street

[+ball]repasser

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pay backvt sep

[+money]rembourser→ If I take out a loan, it could take me years to pay it back.

[+person]I'll pay you back tomorrow.Je te rembourserai demain.

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peel backvt sepdécoller→ He peeled back the stamp and found what he was looking for.

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peg backvt sep[+opponent]revenir sur→ though he pressed his rival, he could not peg him back

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phone back

vt seprappeler→ Perhaps he could phone me back when he gets in?→ I'll phone you back later.I'll ask him to phone you back as soon as he gets in.Je lui demanderai de vous rappeler dès qu'il arrivera.

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play backvt sep[+message, tape, film]repasser→ He bought an answering machine that plays back his messages when he calls.→ I played the tape back.→ It's a good system. It allows you to play the film back immediately.

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plough backvt sepréinvestirto plough sth back into sth[+profits]réinvestir qch dans qch→ Money from the increased taxes will be ploughed back into the health

(=retreat)
[troops]se retirerto pull back from[+position]se retirer de→ They were asked to pull back from their artillery positions around the city.

(=change one's mind)faire marche arrière→ The government threatened to make public its disquiet but then pulled back.→ I was going to tell him what I thought, but at the last moment I pulled back.

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push backvt sep

[+object]reculer→ The woman pushed back her chair and stood up.[+one's hair]ramener en arrière→ She pushed back her hair.

to push back the boundariesrepousser les limitesThey have pushed back the boundaries of medical research.Ils ont repoussé les limites de la recherche médicale.

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put backvt sep

(=replace)remettre→ Could you put the milk back in the fridge?→ They put the settee back against the wall.I put the book back on the shelf.J'ai remis le livre sur l'étagère.Put it back when you've finished with it.Remets-le en place une fois que tu auras fini.

(=postpone)[+meeting, start]remettre→ We've had to put back the seminar again.→ The trip has been put back to Easter.The meeting has been put back to next month.La réunion a été remise au mois prochain.

(=delay)retarderThis will put production back at least a month.Cela retardera la production d'au moins un moins.This will put us back ten years.Cela nous ramènera dix ans en arrière.

[+watch, clock]retarder→ When summer time ends, clocks must be put back an hour.→ Travelling west meant that we had to put our watches back.

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race backvi
(=return quickly)revenir à toute allure→ I race back to my room, where the phone is ringing

(=return)rendre, rapporter→ He took the damaged shoes back to the shop.I took it back to the shop.Je l'ai rapporté au magasin.

[+one's words]retirer→ Take back what you said about Jeremy!I take it all back!Je retire tout ce que j'ai dit!

(=remind of the past)ramenerIt took me back to being five years old.Cela m'a ramené à mes cinq ans.It took me back ten years.Cela m'a ramené dix ans en arrière.

(=allow to return)[+partner, husband, wife]reprendre→ Why did she take him back?

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think backvirepenserThinking back, I don't know how I had the courage.Quand j'y repense, je me demande comment j'ai eu ce courage.to think back to sthrepenser à qch→ I thought back to when my son was desperately ill.

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